Elevated concerns for McCaffrey's 2026 have made Fantasy managers a bit nervous to draft him in Round 1. Missing a week's worth of practice in early/middle August due to unspecified "tightness" really did not help the cause, either. Last season, McCaffrey was the No. 1 non-quarterback at 24.5 PPR points per game. In total, McCaffrey had 450 total touches in 19 games, and that's a lot of work. He also turned 30 in June, the age in which many running backs begin declining. We've been here before: After McCaffrey had 403 touches in 2019, he missed large chunks of the 2020 and 2021 seasons. Then after 417 total touches in 19 games in 2023, he was limited to four games in 2024. It's fair for Fantasy managers to be somewhat cautious with McCaffrey given his past, but the upside is hard to ignore. You can handcuff McCaffrey with the No. 2 running back in San Francisco -- we expect Jordan James to win that job in a competition with Kaelon Black and Isaac Guerendo -- to give yourself a backup plan. If you're not excited about McCaffrey, look to Chase Brown, James Cook and CeeDee Lamb as other Round 1 options.
49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Not suited up for Thursday's game
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McCaffrey (undisclosed) will not play in Thursday night's preseason game against the Chargers, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.
McCaffrey remains idle with "tightness," though he was on the field for pregame warmups Thursday and looked to be moving around normally. Coach Kyle Shanahan has continued to downplay McCaffrey's "injury" and said Tuesday that CMC would be practicing if it were the regular season. There's been nothing to suggest McCaffrey is in any sort of danger of missing Week 1 against the Rams in three weeks.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Coming along well, per Shanahan
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Coach Kyle Shanahan said McCaffrey (undisclosed) would've practiced Tuesday if the 49ers hadn't been in a joint session with the Chargers, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Shanahan also shut down speculation about McCaffrey's recent absences being contract-related. The star running back has been absent for a week due to what's only been described as "tightness". If Shanahan is to be believed, McCaffrey is making good progress and nearing a return to practice.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Tightness not considered serious issue
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McCaffrey is dealing with "tightness," but it doesn't seem to be an issue to worry about, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports.
For the sake of clarity, Rapoport emphasized that McCaffrey hasn't been missing practice due to a phantom injury or a contract hold-in. Rapoport suggested that the star running back is dealing with "actual tightness" as opposed to sitting out as a means of forcing contract negotiations, and the report also notes that McCaffrey "should be fine." At this point, fantasy managers can probably count on the workhorse tailback being available for Week 1 of the regular season, though it certainly bears monitoring his practice status as the preseason rolls on.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Misses another practice Saturday
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McCaffrey (undisclosed) remained sidelined during practice Saturday, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
The 49ers haven't yet offered much detail on McCaffrey's status aside from saying that he's dealing with "tightness." The star running back didn't play in the team's preseason opener versus Tennessee on Thursday, though San Francisco held out its other key starters as well. Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said early in the week that the team is "just managing" McCaffrey through some soreness, and at this point there's no indication that he's at risk of not being ready for Week 1 of the regular season. Still, fantasy managers -- especially those who have upcoming drafts -- may be wise to keep an eye on the situation to monitor when McCaffrey is ready to return to the practice field.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Still sidelined Tuesday
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McCaffrey (undisclosed) isn't participating in Tuesday's joint practice with the Titans, Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News reports.
McCaffrey was held out of drills Monday due to what the 49ers termed "tightness," and offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak later touched on the subject, stating the team is "just managing" the veteran running back as he deals with some soreness, per Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com. McCaffrey is one of four San Francisco running backs tending to an injury along with Jordan James (broken ribs), Kaelon Black (adductor) and Isaac Guerendo (pectoral, PUP), leaving Patrick Taylor, Sincere McCormick and Khalil Herbert as the current healthy options at the position.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Monday absence downplayed
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Offensive coordinator Klay Kubiak said the 49ers are "just managing" McCaffrey (undisclosed), who missed Monday's practice due to "tightness," Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
Kubiak also told Wagoner that McCaffrey is "a little sore," but the standout running back is "doing fine." The 49ers also are dealing with injuries to others in the backfield, namely Jordan James (broken ribs), Kaelon Black (adductor) and Isaac Guerendo (pectoral, active/PUP), meaning Patrick Taylor, Sincere McCormick and Khalil Herbert currently are the healthy options at the position. Kubiak's comments indicate the team will take a cautious approach with McCaffrey until he's fully healthy.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Gets day off Monday
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McCaffrey won't practice Monday due to "tightness," Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
McCaffrey is the latest 49er to catch the injury bug that has plagued the team in the early stages of training camp, joining fellow RBs Jordan James (broken ribs), Kaelon Black (adductor) and Isaac Guerendo (pectoral, active/PUP) on the sideline. That leaves Patrick Taylor, Sincere McCormick and Khalil Herbert as the team's healthy options at the position just three days before the team's preseason opener Thursday against the Titans. San Francisco likely will continue to exercise caution with McCaffrey until he's back to 100 percent.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Wins Best Comeback Athlete
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McCaffrey was named the Best Comeback Athlete at the 2026 ESPYS, Briana Jeannel of the 49ers' official site reports.
McCaffrey earned All-Pro honors while rushing 311 times for 1,202 yards and 10 touchdowns across 17 regular-season games in 2025, and also leading all running backs with a 102-924-7 receiving line (129 targets). Head coach Kyle Shanahan acknowledged back in spring that the team may alleviate McCaffrey's workload in 2026 in order to keep him fresh, a fair concern given that the 30-year-old handled a career-high 413 touches last year. McCaffrey himself has downplayed any workload concerns, and his versatility will help him remain a high-end fantasy producer even if any of Jordan James, Kaelon Black, Isaac Guerendo (pectoral), Patrick Taylor, Jordan Mims or Jermar Jefferson earn a larger role this year.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Downplays workload concerns
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McCaffrey said after Thursday's OTAs that he's looking forward to sustaining another heavy workload in 2026, and that any reductions in touches should come in practice rather than games, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
"I think everything else can be monitored during the week or with a practice schedule or certain ways you train, whatever it may be," McCaffrey said. "But when it comes to game days, I like to think you prepare yourself for playing every snap." McCaffrey handled a career-high 413 touches during the 2025 regular season, leading the NFL in that category for the third time in his nine-year career. Head coach Kyle Shanahan said earlier in the offseason that the team would like to provide McCaffrey more help in the backfield to ensure the star running back stays fresh and effective down the stretch, but McCaffrey has no plans to cede a significant share of regular-season snaps to any of Jordan James, Kaelon Black, Isaac Guerendo (pectoral), Patrick Taylor, Jordan Mims or Jermar Jefferson, all of whom are competing for slotting behind McCaffrey on San Francisco's running back depth chart.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Named Comeback Player of Year
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McCaffrey was named the 2025 Comeback Player of the Year on Thursday, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
McCaffrey was limited to only four games in 2024 due to Achilles and knee injuries, but he managed to suit up for all 17 regular-season contests in 2025. He also handled an impressive 413 total touches while racking up 2,126 yards from scrimmage. McCaffrey's rushing efficiency took a concerning dip, but his involvement as a pass catcher should help him retain elite fantasy value in 2026.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Limited in loss
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McCaffrey rushed the ball 11 times for 35 yards in Saturday's 41-6 divisional-round loss to the Seahawks. He added five receptions on six targets for 39 yards.
McCaffrey had a relatively muted stat line by his lofty standards, though he was one of the few players who was effective to any degree in the 49ers' offense. His longest gains from scrimmage all came as a receiver, as four of his five receptions went for at least eight yards. McCaffrey was limited as a rusher by the game script, and he was also forced to depart from the game on two separate occasions due to a stinger in his left shoulder. While it was a disappointing loss, McCaffrey turned in a standout effort for the campaign as a whole, logging 2,126 yards from scrimmage and 17 total touchdowns across 17 regular-season contests.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Dealing with upper-body injury
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McCaffrey is questionable to return to Saturday's divisional-round game against the Seahawks due to a stinger, Nick Wagoner of ESPN.com reports.
McCaffrey suffered the injury on San Francisco's final drive of the first half, and he's remained out to start the third quarter. He was spotted having his left shoulder worked on, though he remained on the sideline with his helmet on. Brian Robinson has taken over as the lead back in McCaffrey's absence.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Hits pay dirt twice in WC win
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McCaffrey rushed 15 times for 48 yards and caught six of eight targets for 66 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's 23-19 playoff win over the Eagles.
TE George Kittle (Achilles) went down midway through the second quarter of Sunday's wild-card game, so the 49ers had to rely on its remaining superstar in order to overcome the Eagles' dominant defense. McCaffrey responded to the moment and generated well over 100 yards from scrimmage while catching a pair of touchdown passes -- including the game-winning score -- to advance his club to the next round. The 49ers' dual-threat running back was bottled up against the Seahawks when these two division foes met in the regular-season finale (16 touches for 57 yards), but McCaffrey should find himself busier as a receiver in the divisional round rematch with Kittle expected to miss the remainder of the postseason.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Limited in practice
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McCaffrey (back) practiced in a limited capacity Wednesday, Matt Maiocco of NBC Sports Bay Area reports.
McCaffrey was held out of Tuesday's session due to back stiffness, which stems from the evident back issue he was dealing with in the waning moments of this past Sunday's win against the Bears. He did most of his damage before then in the Week 17 win, racking up 181 yards from scrimmage and a rushing TD on 27 touches. Earlier Wednesday, GM John Lynch said on Cam Inman of The San Jose Mercury News that McCaffrey and other key 49ers were trending toward playing Saturday against the Seahawks, and the running back's upgrade in activity level from Tuesday backs up that claim. McCaffrey will have one more chance to get back to full before potentially being tagged with a designation for Week 18 action.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Extends TD streak to four games
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McCaffrey (back) took 22 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown while grabbing his only target for 14 yards in Sunday's 37-24 win over Tennessee.
McCaffrey battled an illness and a minor back injury in order to suit up for Sunday's contest, and he looked no worse for wear in the win. The 29-year-old punched in his ninth rushing touchdown of the campaign while extending his scoring streak to four games. CMC was used sporadically as a receiver (one target) for the first time this season after entering the contest with averages of 6.5 receptions on 8.2 targets. Assuming his back injury didn't flare up Sunday, fantasy managers can expect McCaffrey to spearhead San Francisco's offense on the road against Indianapolis on Monday Night Football in Week 16.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Active versus Titans
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McCaffrey (back) is active for Sunday's game against the Titans.
After an illness impacted his practice participation Wednesday and Thursday, McCaffrey worked fully Friday and initially approached Sunday's contest minus a designation. However, on Saturday the running back was added the 49ers' Week 15 injury report due to a back issue. With his availability versus Tennessee confirmed, McCaffrey is back on track to pace his team's backfield in the absence of any in-game setbacks. Next up for San Franciso's backfield touches if McCaffrey is hampered at all would be Brian Robinson and Isaac Guerendo.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Expected to play vs. Tennessee
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Although he was added to the 49ers' injury report Saturday, McCaffrey (back) is expected to play against the Titans on Sunday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
McCaffrey popped up on Saturday's injury report due to a back issue, but at this time, the injury isn't considered severe enough for him to miss Sunday's contest. If McCaffrey suffers a setback or operates on a snap count, then Brian Robinson, Isaac Guerendo and Jordan James would be in line for more work out of the 49ers' backfield. McCaffrey's official status may not be announced until the 49ers submit their list of inactive players approximately 90 minutes before the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Now questionable for Week 15
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McCaffrey has been added to the 49ers' injury report due to a back injury, and he is listed as questionable for Sunday's game against the Titans, Matt Barrows of The Athletic reports.
McCaffrey was able to shake off an illness during Week 15 prep, but the veteran running back appears to be working through a new back issue. The injury puts McCaffrey in jeopardy of missing Sunday's game, and his official status may not be known until the 49ers announce their list of inactive players approximately 90 minutes before the 4:25 p.m. ET kickoff. If McCaffrey is unable to play, then Brian Robinson would likely take over as the 49ers' lead back while Isaac Guerendo and Jordan James provide backfield depth.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Dealing with illness
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McCaffrey was limited at Thursday's practice due to an illness, David Lombardi of SFStandard.com reports.
McCaffrey ranks fifth in the entire NFL with 85 catches and also sits in third with 237 carries through 13 games this season, resulting in 1,655 yards from scrimmage and 13 total TDs. With an illness now in tow, he may need to get back to all activity Friday in order to avoid a designation for Sunday's contest against the Titans. Brian Robinson is the next RB up in San Francisco if McCaffrey cedes any backfield reps this weekend.
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49ers' Christian McCaffrey: Scores thrice in dominant win
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McCaffrey rushed 13 times for 81 yards and two touchdowns while bringing in five of six targets for 40 yards and a third score in Sunday's 41-22 rout of the Cardinals.
McCaffrey took full advantage of a soft defensive matchup en route to the fifth three-score game of his decorated career. After being held out of the end zone on the ground through the first five weeks of the season, CMC has run wild with six rushing touchdowns over San Francisco's last six contests. The improved rushing totals haven't come at the expense of the versatile superstar's production through the air, as he upped his stellar receiving line to 74-732-5 through 11 starts. A red-hot McCaffrey will set his sights on his former club in a primetime tilt against the Panthers on Monday Night Football in Week 12.
